Method of making containers



Fe 26, 19 6- J. G. ONE IL ETAL METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 10, 1940 Jizvemiars AZZornqy F 6- J. G. ONEILEI'AL. I

METHOD or MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed May 10, 1940 '4 Sheets-Sheet2 Feb. 26, 1946. J. G. ONElL ETAL 2,395,754

' METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS I Original Filed May 1 o, 1940 4Sheet-Sheet s we v fzu/ewiors Feb 26,1946. G; ONElL ETAL 2,395,754

METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed May 1o,v 1940 4 Sheets- Sheet4 Even/Zora AZZrn/ey Patented Feb. 26, 1946 2,395,754 METHOD OF MAKINGCONTAINERS John G. ONeil, Faribault, and Lawrence G. Zesbaugh,Minneapolis, Minn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Carl Weinhagen,Jia, St. Paul,

Minn.

Original application May 10, 1940, Serial No.

334,384. Divided and her 24, 1943,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a container and particularly to a novel methodof making a container. While the invention might be applicable tovarious types of containers in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, it is shown applied to a container in general tubular form.

With the increasing dispensing of liquids including milk, powders andother substances in containers, it is desirable to have a simple andinexpensive form of container in which liquids and other substances maybe packed and dispensed, which container should be of rugged and strongstructure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efiicientmethod of forming a container of general tubular for It is further anobject of the invention to provide a simple and eflicient method offorming a container of general tubular form which consists in making orproducing a rigid member having an opening therethrough which may be aring or which may be of polygonal form, winding a sheet of flexiblematerial about said member to form a tube and preferably securing saidmaterial to said member and subsequently placing a bottom in said tube.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a simple andefficient method of forming a container of general tubular form whichconsists in providing a substantially rigid member hav-' ing an openingtherethrough such as a ring, winding a sheet of flexible material aboutsaid ring to form a tube, crimping said tube at one side of said ring toreduce the diameter of said tube and, placing a bottom in one end ofsaid tube.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a simple and efficientmethod of forming a container of general tubular form which consists inproviding a ring of substantially rigid material, such as a ring ofpaper or cardboard, winding a sheet of flexible material such as stiffpaper about said ring in a plurality of layers to form a tube andpreferably securing said material to said ring, crimping said tube toreduce the diameter thereof at one side of said ring and thus form ashoulder against which said ring may seat and placing a bottom in oneend of said tube.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a method suchas set forth in the preceding paragraphs in which said blank ispreferably provided with a multiplicity of scores extendingsubstantially at right angles to one longitudinal edge of said blank,said crimping being done in the zone of said scores, whereby said thisapplication Septem- Serial No. 593,676

scores intermittently form crimps or pleats and also preferably scoringsaid blank along lines adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof so thatit maybe folded over on said last mentioned scores.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a container made by the method ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through said container;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through said container taken on line 3-3of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a parallel vertical section similar to Fig. 2 shown on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section similar to Fig. 2 showing thebottom of the container and also shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank used in making said container;

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section through the top portion of thecontainer showing a modification;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the container of Fig. 7 withthe cover completed;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the cover partly lifted;

Fig. 10 is a view in central vertical section of the top portion of amodified form of container;

Fi ll is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of aportion of machine which may be used to make the container;

Fig. 12 is a view in front elevation of a portion of said machine;

Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a somewhat diagrammatic View illustrating the method offorming the bottom in said container;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of a portion of apparatus for applyingadhesive to secure the bottom;

Fig. 16 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection of a portion of said machine;

Fig. 17 is a vertical central section through the top of the finishedcontainer;

Fig. 18 is a central sectional view through the bottom portion of afinished container;

Fig, 19 is a central section through a wheel used in crimping andfolding the bottom of the container;

Fig. 20 is a similar view through a wheel for compacting the folded endportion;

Fig. 21 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in transversesection of a mandrel with the container thereon and Fig. 22 is a partialvertical radial section through the bottom of the container.

Referring to the drawings in Fig. 6 a blank is shown and while themethod of the invention could be carried out with other blanks, saidblank is shown as comprising a strip .25 of flexible sheet materialwhich may be stiff paper or similar material. When the blank andcontainer are made from paper the stock will be suitably treated torender it suitable for the substance which the container is intended tohold. If the container is to hold liquid such as milk, the paper stockwill be treated to render it water-proof. Similarly the stock could betreated to render it oil or grease-proof if the container is intended tohold lubricating oil. grease or similar substances. The blank 25ispreferably provided with pairs of longitudinal scores 25a and 25bwhich are suitably spaced and extend parallel to the longitudinal edgesof the blank. Between the scores 2511 the blank is preferably providedwith a pair of scores 2513 rather closely spaced and which extendsubstantially parallel to scores 25m. The upper score 25b is spaced 2.short distance from the upper score 25a and scores 25b are spaced adistance which is shown substantially the same as that between upperscore 251) and the upper score 25a. Between the scores 25a the blank ispreferably provided with a plurality of scores 250 preferably arrangedin pairs, the scores of said pairs being slightly separated and thepairs being spaced at somewhat greaterdistance. The blank is alsopreferably provided with scores 25d which extend longitudinally of theblank, a short distance from and parallel to its longitudinal edges.Preferably the scores 25d are formed as pairs, the scores of the pairsbeing slightly separated. The blank 25 may be made in separate lengthseach suitable for one container or it may be formed as a continuousstrip from which the individual lengths will be severed as thecontainers are formed.

To form the container a member 25 is produced which will be made of somerigid or substantially rigid material and in practice this member hasbeen made of stiff paper or cardboard material. While member 26 could beof polygonal shape, the same is illustrated as annular or in the form ofa ring. Ring 26 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4: may be rectangular in radialcross section or it may be as shown in Figs. 7 to where it is providedwith beveled portions 26a and 2810 at its outer side and top and bottomportions respectively. When the ring 26 has been formed the blank 25 iswrapped tightly about the ring with the ring being located adjacent onelongitudinal edge of the blank. While the blank 25 could be wrappedaround the ring by hand, it preferably is wrapped about the ring bymachine. Such a machine constructed and arranged to form the containerisdisclosed and claimed in the copending application of applicants S. N.394,136, filed May 19, 1941. illustrated in this application inconnection with the description of the method.

The ring 26 may be placed upon a mandrel 21. While various types ofmandrels could be Portions of said machine are used, in practice amandrel such as illustrated in applicants Patent 2,280,970, grantedApril 28, 1942, has been used. When the method is carried out in amachine the mandrels 2! may be carried on a rotating head or turret 3!]which as illustrated in Fig. ll will rotate as indicated by the arrows.The mandrel 2? with the ring thereon is brought within a brokencylindrical member or shell formed by the semi-cylindrical plate 3!carried on a portion 32a of an arm 32 which extends substantiallyvertically. Another plate '33 of partly cylindrical form is providedextending between certain supporting members 35. Another partlycylindrical plate 35 is provided extending between certain supportingmembers 38. A roller 3'! has its bottom portion disposed substantiallyin the opening between plates 3| and 35, said roller being journalled ona stud 38 carried in a link 39, pivoted on the stud 48 secured in arm32. Link 35 and roller 31 are resiliently supported in one direction bya compression coiled spring All which engages arm or link 39, saidspring at its other end engaging a washer 52, in turn engaged by thehead of a bolt 43 passing through link 39 and threaded into a blockcarried by arm 82. Another roller 45 is journalled on the stud 65supported in members 3d and has one side extending into the spacebetween plates 33 and 35. Another roller G7 is journalled on the stud4-8 secured in a link 48' pivoted on the stud 49 carried in a verticalsupporting bar 55. Link G8 is also mounted to be under resilientpressure toward plates 3i and 33 by compression coil spring 5: suitablymounted on a stud 52 extending through link 28. One side of roller 41 isdisposed in the space or opening between plates 3| and 33. The material25c forming the blanks 25 which has been scored as described, is fedfrom a roll (not shown) between fe'ed rollers. 55 and 56 and betweenplates 51 and 58, the plate 51 having its terminal substantially in thecircumference of plates 3!, 33 and 35. Roller 56 may be driven by apinion with which meshes a gear 59a which latter will be suitablydriven. The mandrel 21 is positioned coaxially with plates 31, 33 and 35and is rotated as indicated by the arrows 68 so that the material 250 iswrapped very tightly about ring 26 on 1 v the mandrel and while as manylayers as desired may be used in practice, two layers of the materialhave been wrapped about ring 26. The blank after being wrapped aboutring 26 is severed either by hand or a portion of the machine. Inperforming the method on the machine the turret 30 is intermittentlyrotated in the direction indicated by arrows 6i and the tube which hasnow been formed on ring 26 is moved past certain pressing and compactingrollers 62 suitably carried on a bracket 63 and resiliently pressedtoward the said tube by springs 64.

The next operation performed on the tube or container body is thecrimping operation. While this could be performed by hand it preferablyis performed on the said machine and for this purpose the end of thetube containing ring 25 is moved into a crimping device illustrated inFigs. 12 and 13. It may be stated that the layers of material 25c arepreferably coated with adhesive so that they are cemented together whenwrapped about ring 26. Adhesive also is preferably applied to theperiphery of ring 26 so that the layer of paper contacting saidperiphery will be cemented or secured to ring 26. The crimping devicecomprises a plurality of thin plates 68. These plates are ofsemi-annular form and are arranged in four sets as seen in Fig. 12. Theplates of one set are disposed between the plates of the adjacent set. Abracket 69 of general right angle form is secured to the top of abracket and has a central hub 69a. A shaft H is journaled in hub 69a andat the forward portion thereof has secured thereto a member 12 having arear flange portion and four projecting equally and circumferentiallyspaced lugs 12a. Bracket 69 also has projecting from its upstandingportion four equally and circumferentially spaced lugs 69b located on asomewhat greater radius than lugs 69a. The plates 68 are oscillatablymounted at one end on bolts 13 extendin into the lu s 69b and are thusheld about a stationary axis. The other ends of the plates of each sethave passing therethrough screw 14 secured in the lugs 69a. A plate 15is disposed at the outer side of plates 68, the same being of annularform and the openin therethrough being sufliciently large for thecylinder formed on the mandrel to pass therethrough. A lever arm 16 issecured to the other end of shaft H. Lever 16 is connected by a link rod11 to another lever 18 secured to a shaft 19 which is oscillatablymounted in a bracket 80 secured to one side of bracket Ill. A lug 8|projects from one side of bracket I'll through which link rod 11 passesand a coiled compression sprin 82 surrounds rod 11 bearing at one endagainst lever 16 and at its other end against lug Bl. Anothercompression coiled spring 83 surrounds rod ll bearing at its upper endagainst lug BI and at its lower end against lever 18. Lever 18intermediate its ends has secured therein a stud on which is carried acam roller 84 disposed to engage a cam 85 secured to shaft 86.

It will be seen that when arm 16 is moved downwardly member 69 will beoscillated and the blades 88 will be swung toward the axis of shaft H.The shape of the blades is shown in Fig. 12 where one appears in frontelevation at the upper left hand corner. It will be seen that the bladehas a concave semi-circular inner portion 88a. These portions in thefour sets of blades form a circle. The inner edges of the blades arearranged to form an angle in cross section as indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 13, the apex of the angle being directed toward the axisof shaft H. The tube or container body is moved endwise into thecrimping device and is moved endwise therefrom after the crimpingoperation.

The crimping operation reduces the diameter of the said tube orcontainer body and the minimum diameter is at a point just below thering 26. The scores 25c facilitate the crimping operation and after saidoperation the scores form small crimps or pleats 25h in the body of thecontainer. The crimping operation forms an inclined shoulder 25] and thelower part of ring 26 seats against said shoulder. When the rin isbeveled, the bevel 26b is at substantially the same angle as saidshoulder. The crimping thus forms a seat for the ring and it would beimpossible for the ring to be moved downward in the container body. Thecontainer body is also considerably strengthened at its top portionwhere it probably will be handled the most.

The small pleats or folds formed by scores 250 in the crimping operationrun out into the cylindrical wall or periphery of the container a shortdistance above its smallest diameter and run out into said periphery agreater distance below said smallest diameter. The scores 25a, 25b, 25cand 25d can be made with any suitable tool which will make a fine creasein the paper stock. The crimping operation could be performed by placingthe formed tube in a press or other surrounding member which can beforced inwardly.

After the crimping operation the container is provided with a bottom andthis is made in the,

form of a cup having a peripheral cylindrical flange 90a (see Figs. 6and 18). The inside of the container body or tube adjacent its bottom isprovided with a layer 9| of adhesive and the periphery of flange 90a ispreferably provided with adhesive. While the bottom 90 could be placedin the tube or container body by hand, it preferably i placed thereinwhen carried upon a plunger as illustrated in said machine application.Adhesive 9| could be applied to the inside of the said tube by movingtherein an adhesivecoated wheel 92 shown in Fig. 14 and rotated by ashaft 93. Adhesive could be applied to wheel 92 by an adhesive-applyingwheel 94 carried on shaft 95, said wheel being partly disposed inareceptacle 95 containing adhesive. A plunger is moved toward thecontainer bottom 25g coaxially therewith and the bottom 90 is thus movedinto the end of said body on tube and will be firmly secured thereto bythe adhesive. The end of the tube is then folded about flange 98a andthis could be done by hand or by the use of a tool or wheel Hi0 carriedon a shaft HJI shown in Fig, 19. In the said machine the end is foldedover by such a wheel. After the end i thus folded over it is thusfurther smoothed and compacted. While this could be done by hand in anydesired manner, it preferably is done by the use of a small wheel I02carried on a shaft I03 operated'by hand or in a machine as shown in saidmachine application. When'the scores 25d are used and the contactingends of the two layers are folded inwardly over flange 99a the innerlayer will take the form shown in Fig. 22. The inner layer will foldpartly about one score 2512. closer to the ed e of flange 99a and willfold about the other score 25d farther away from the edge of flange 90a.

This method and structure is used so that the two layers of the materialneed not be separated and so that the terminal edges of the folded-inlayers will be flush. Otherwise the outer layer would be disposedfarther outwardly from the bottom of the container than the-inner layer.

Alternatel the bottom of the container could be folded inwardly as shownin Figs. 2 and 5. In this modification the lower edge portion of theblank is folded inwardly along a line parallel to its lower edge beforebeing wound into the form of a tube. The top of the container is alsopreferably. folded inwardly and when the ring 26 is provided with abevel 26a the folded-in ends of the tube have their terminal edgesdisposed below the top I of ring 26 or in line with the bevel 26a asshown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The top ends may also be folded as shown inFig. 2 where each layer is folded in separately and the inner layer isat the outside of ring 26. Such structur is made byfolding over the topportion of the blank along a line parallel to its top edge before theblank is wound about ring 26. The space between the layers at the topand bottom in such folded form 70.

as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 is largely filled with adhesive. The topportion of the tube may also be folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 17where the terminal ends of the inwardly folded sheets engage thetop ofring 26. Where the container isto receive a plain, cupped. capthecontainer may be severed at its top portion, flush with the top of ring.26 as shown in Fig. 1.0. As shown in Fig. 3 the vertical edges of theblank overlap some. distance. The container thus has a four layerthickness at its top portion. This with the ring 26 and. the crimpedportion formed by the crimps give the container an exceedingly firm andstrong structure.

.In the said machine a portion of which is illustrated in Fig. 11, thecontainer bodies were transferred from the mandrels or turret 30 tosupporting members H on a second turret ill intermittently rotated inthe: direction of arrows H2. The mandrels .21 on turret 30 and themembers Hi on turret lll come into coaxial alignment at one point asshown in Fig. 11. The finished container 0 is finally discharged fromturret Ill into a Suitabiechute or receptacle H3; A gear 1 I4 is shownas meshing with the gear I I5 secured to turret I l l. A receptacle H6is shown adapted to contain adhesive which is applied by the roller H Ito the periphery of the rings 26.

All of said parts are described in the machine application referred toand .it is believed any further description of the machine in thisapplication is unnecessary. The machine parts herein are illustrated toshow that the method could be carried out by suitable mechanism as wellas by hand.

In Figs. 7 to 9 .a. cover shown for the container. This cover is firstmade as a'cup I20, having a peripheral flange lZflc. V-shaped cuts orrecesses [20b are preferably formed in said flange at diametricallyopposite points. Preferabl the end or disc portion of the cup no isprovided with a score I200 extending thereacross on a diameter in linewith; the ends of cuts or recesses IZGb. The cup I20 is positioned orforced into the upper end of the container into engagement with the topof ring 26. The edges thereof are then turned or folded downwardly andoutwardly to form the part [2901 which is semi-cylindrical in radialcross section and an external cylindrical flange I206. The .cover whenin position on a container is as shown in Fig. 8. The cover can belifted as shown in Fig.

' 9, the disc portion thereof then folding on score i200. The covercould be raised somewhat to permit the contents of the container to bepoured out or can be entirely removed by lifting one side as shown inFig. 9.

From the above description it will be seen that we have provided anovel, very efiicient and ingenious method of forming a. container. Thecontainer has been formed of stiif paper material with a rigid ring 26and a very strong durable and efficient container is produced. Such .acontainer is very suitable for the delivery of liquid milk. It can alsobe used for any other liquid or other material such as cereals or othergranular material. The container can be quickly made from a simple blankand the completed container is very strong and rugged. The container canbe produced at a price to effect a great saving over the use of glassbottles now commonly used. When used for the usual daily dispensing ofliquid milk, the container may be discarded after the milk has been usedtherefrom. The milk company is thusrelieved of the necessity ofcollecting containers such as glass bottles and a great breakage lossnow sustained with glass bottles would be eliminated. The containercould be used w'iththe simple disc cover new used with glass bottles,which disc would be forced into the container into contact with ring 26.When thecove-r shown in Figs. 7 to 9 is used, it can be quickly removedby simply inserting the thumb nail or finger nail over the folded edgeof portion 20s. The cover then swings upwardly about the diametricalscore and pivots or hinges about said score. The container is made froma simple blank and this can be easily and quickly prepared. The methodof this invention has been amply demonstrated in actual practice andfound to be very successful and efficient.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in themethod and in the steps and sequence of steps of the same withoutdeparting from applicants invention, which generally stated, consists ina method capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and suchas. described in the appended claims.

This application is a division of applicants copending applications S.N. 334,384 and 394,136 above identified.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of forming a container which consists in providing a rigidmember having an opening therethrough, placing said member upon amandrel, rotating said mandrel to wind a sheet of flexible materialabout said member with the edges of said sheet respectively spaced fromthe sides of said ring to form a tube with said ring spaced from bothends thereof, placing a bottom in one end of said tube and folding theend of said tube inwardly at the outer side of said bottom.

2. The method of forming a container of general tubular form whichconsists in providing a rigid ring, winding a sheet of paper-likematerial about said ring in a plurality of layers with the edges of saidsheet respectivel spaced from the sides of said ring to form a tubehaving said ring spaced from the ends thereof, crimping said tube at theside of said ring spaced farther from one end thereof to reduce thediameter of said tube and form a shoulder against which said ring mayseat and placing a bottom in one end of said tube.

3. The method of forming a tubular container body which comprisesforming a blank of flexible material such as heavy paper and ofsubstantially uniform width, scoring said blank with sets of spacedparallel scores extending transversely thereof and located adjacent onelongitudinal edge of said blank, providing a rigid ring, placin saidblank in position relatively to said ring so that said ring is adjacentthe ends of said scores and has its sides spaced from the edges of saidblank winding said blank about said ring to form a tube having said ringspaced from the ends thereof and crimping said tube to reduce thediameter thereof in alignment with said scores and at one side of saidring.

4. The method of forming a tubular container which comprises forming asheet of paper blank of elongated form and substantially uniform width,scoring said blank with spaced parallel scores adjacent and parallel toone longitudinal edge thereof, scoring said blank with spacedscores'extending between and at right angles to said scores, providing arigid ring, winding said said blank about said ring with said ringadjacent the ends of said last mentioned scores and spaced from theedges of said blank to form a tubular body having said :ring spaced fromthe ends thereof and crimping said body and reducing the diameterthereof adjacent said ring at the zone of said scoring, whereby saidlast mentioned scores form .crimps in said body. I

5. The method of formin a tubular container which comprises forming asheet of paper blank of elongated form and of substantially uniformwidth, scoring said blank with parallel spaced scores extending at rightangles to one longitudinal edge thereof and near but spaced from saidedge, scoring said blank with a pair of parallel longitudinallyextending scores adjacent each longitudinal 'edge thereof, providing arigid ring, locating said ring between the edges of said blank windingsaid blank on said ring to form a tube having said ring spaced from theends thereof, crimping said body to reduce the diameter thereof in thezone of said first mentioned scores and adjacent said ring whereby saidscores form crimps in said body, placing a bottom in one end of saidtube and folding in the ends of said tube along said last mentionedscores.

6. The method of forming a tubular container bod which comprises forminga sheet paper blank of general elongated rectangular form, scoring saidblank with closely spaced parallel longitudinally extending scoresadjacent its bottom edge, winding said blank on a mandrel to form atubular body having inner and outer contacting layers with their bottomedges in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said body, placing abottom member in said body having a cylindrical downwardly extendingflange and folding both said inner and outer layers inwardly about saidflange at said scores and forming a fold in said inner layer adjacentthe edge of said flange and thus maintaining the edges of said layers ina plane extending at right angles to the axis of said body. I

7. The method of forming a container of general tubular form whichconsists in providing a rigid ring winding a sheet of flexible materialon said ring, with said material extending at both sides of said ring toform a tube with said ring spaced from the ends thereof and crimpingsaid tube inwardly at one side of said ring to form a shoulder againstwhich said ringtmay seat.

8. The method of forming a container of general tubular form whichconsists in placing a ring on a mandrel, the periphery of said ringbeing of greater diameter than the adjacent periphery of said mandrel,applying adhesive to the periphery of said ring, winding a sheet offlexible material about said ring in a plurality of layers to form atube, with said ring spaced from both ends thereof, connecting saidlayers by adhesive, and contracting said tube adjacent one side of saidring to form a shoulder against which said ring may seat.

9. The method of forming a container of general tubular form whichconsists in locating a sheet of flexible material having substantiallyparallel edges relatively to a ring so that the sides of said ring arespaced from said edges respectively, winding said sheet about said ringso that said sheet engages and is supported by said ring to form a tubehaving said ring spaced from the ends thereof and contracting said tubeclose to one side of said ring to form a shoulder against which saidring seats.

JOHN G. ONEIL. LAWRENCE G. ZESBAUGH.

